Park Hyatt Buenos Aires -- easy to upgrade?

We are traveling to Buenos Aires, and are really hoping to upgrade to a suite for our four-night stay.

We called the Platinum 800 # (neither of us are Diamond) and -- after talking to the helpful agent -- we have concluded these are our two best options:

1.) Upgrade to the normal rack rate, which will add about $650 total to our stay and will cost us 24,000 points for a suite upgrade (6,000/night). Our reservation for a deluxe king is currently booked via my partner's employer's corporate rate.

2.) Stick to our current rate for a deluxe room, and inquire about upgrade options upon check-in. The helpful woman at the Platinum # said "or you can pay the higher rate and use points or you can just hope for an upgrade at check-in. That happens a fair amount, but I obviously can't guarantee it."

We do not have the 108,000 points we would need to book a 4-night free night stay at the suite level (We have about 50,000 combined -- 35k in one account and 15k in the other).

We are traveling to Buenos Aires, and are really hoping to upgrade to a suite for our four-night stay.

We called the Platinum 800 # (neither of us are Diamond) and -- after talking to the helpful agent -- we have concluded these are our two best options:

1.) Upgrade to the normal rack rate, which will add about $650 total to our stay and will cost us 24,000 points for a suite upgrade (6,000/night). Our reservation for a deluxe king is currently booked via my partner's employer's corporate rate.

2.) Stick to our current rate for a deluxe room, and inquire about upgrade options upon check-in. The helpful woman at the Platinum # said "or you can pay the higher rate and use points or you can just hope for an upgrade at check-in. That happens a fair amount, but I obviously can't guarantee it."

We do not have the 108,000 points we would need to book a 4-night free night stay at the suite level (We have about 50,000 combined -- 35k in one account and 15k in the other).

Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed.

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I never hurts to contact the hotel manager or the front desk manager directly at the hotel. I have often been accomodated by doing this when the regular platinum or diamond number could not offer anything.

1. Consider a reservation via a Virtuoso agent. Benefits for this property include: 1. Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability 2. Buffet breakfast daily, for up to two in-room guests in the restaurant 3. Wine and cheese tasting for two, once during stay, at Palacio Duhau Vinoteca

I'd prob. do a reservation via FHR due to the spa credit and late check-out but you would need to be an AMEX Plat or Cent cardholder. It doesn't guarantee a suite but it's worth leveraging your Plat status with the FD agent upon check-in.

1. Consider a reservation via a Virtuoso agent. Benefits for this property include: 1. Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability 2. Buffet breakfast daily, for up to two in-room guests in the restaurant 3. Wine and cheese tasting for two, once during stay, at Palacio Duhau Vinoteca

I'd prob. do a reservation via FHR due to the spa credit and late check-out but you would need to be an AMEX Plat or Cent cardholder. It doesn't guarantee a suite but it's worth leveraging your Plat status with the FD agent upon check-in.

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Good thoughts. I always book hotels of this calibre through one of these two channels.

It sounds like the op may be on a corporate rate, which could be notably less than the rack rates charged under either of the two programs. It is worth enquiring to see the difference.

1.) Upgrade to the normal rack rate, which will add about $650 total to our stay and will cost us 24,000 points for a suite upgrade (6,000/night). Our reservation for a deluxe king is currently booked via my partner's employer's corporate rate.

2.) Stick to our current rate for a deluxe room, and inquire about upgrade options upon check-in. The helpful woman at the Platinum # said "or you can pay the higher rate and use points or you can just hope for an upgrade at check-in. That happens a fair amount, but I obviously can't guarantee it."

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I have not been to the property so can't comment on the possibilities of getting a suite at check-in by paying for an upgrade charge (it does seem like the property has quite a few suites so it's definitely a possibility).

Regarding upgrading with points - it's 6,000 points for up to 4 nights - so the points part will "only" cost you 6,000 points (not 24,000) - but you are correct that you must pay the "rack" (Hyatt Daily Rate) to apply this upgrade (corporate discounts are not eligible).

My corporate rate for a suite is just a few dollars more than the rack rate for a standard room (not deluxe) -- but it sounds like the other programs (LL and FHR) offer some additional benefits that might be worth considering, as long as the suite upgrade is guaranteed. Unfortunately, I don't have a platinum Amex, so can't book through LL, but will give Virtuoso a try.

My corporate rate for a suite is just a few dollars more than the rack rate for a standard room (not deluxe) -- but it sounds like the other programs (LL and FHR) offer some additional benefits that might be worth considering, as long as the suite upgrade is guaranteed. Unfortunately, I don't have a platinum Amex, so can't book through LL, but will give Virtuoso a try.

Thanks!

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What is LL?

Note that both Virtuoso and FHR are normally one category upgrades if available at check in. There are a few exceptions.

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